Please join the 2WAY community in pre-gaming tonight’s Biden make-or-break-or-something-else press conference.
We will gather at 4pm ET today.
Watch by LIVE Zoom 2WAY here.
Watch LIVE one way by YouTube here.
Add the episode to your calendar here.
Participants will include Democratic strategist and author Melissa DeRosa.
Feel free to invite your friends, family members, professional colleagues, and jai alai partners to join in by sending them the links.
More on Joe Biden in a moment, but first:
You can now consume the single best and most important story written about the Trump campaign to date, by Tim Alberta with ample access to Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita.
Read it.
Back to the incumbent.
There are by my count two paths for Joe Biden to leave the race.
1. Nancy Pelosi (with a Ron Klain or John Kerry assist) convinces him that he can’t win the election.
Problem with that for those who want Biden out: Joe Biden used his Blackberry browser to get on washingtonpost.com this morning and saw a national poll showing him tied among registered voters with Donald Trump. Tied.
F-you, why should I get out of a(n) f-ing race in which I am f-ing tied??!!??, I can hear someone saying.
2. An investigative journalism story uncovering unambiguous proof that the president and his women and men lied about the nature of his diagnosis and care.
Problem with that for those who want Biden out: You think that story will be published before the virtual roll call?
Roughly 85% of official Washington, a city that has provided Joe Biden’s paychecks for most of the last half century, has turned on the president.
And roughly 65%, even before the press conference, think he is a dead man walking.
Representative of this point of view is Paul Equale, a former chairman of the DNC Business Council and longtime Democratic operative, whose email to me this morning is printed with permission:
When NATO is over so is Joe. The Fat Lady is getting dressed for her big number.
It’s very clear to me that Pelosi & Obama have decided he has to go. Joe Scarborough called for a weekend family meeting (name checking Dodd & Ted too) to resolve this, & I borrowed your spidey-sense to project past today’s solo presser.
Unless he’s a combination of JFK, Clinton & Obama, the press corps will eat him alive….for all the reasons you have documented about them feeling used, abused & gaslighted.
By the way, my friend Steve & his colleagues think they are briefing Dem Senators at lunch today, when they are ACTUALLY ON THE MENU.
You know how this works…..things happen slowly, & then they happen instantly.
As for the press conference, here’s what Ron Fournier, the former Associate Press ace White House reporter suggests:
In a follow up message to me, Fournier wrote:
The key is to ask it, shut up, and hold eye contact.
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Back to Trump.
As for veepstakes, it appears that, in the end, Burgum had too much Palin-y risk, Rubio was too unsimpatico with the Maven of Mar-a-Lago and too likely to someday go Pence-y, and those Trumps just love J.D. Vance.
Five things are certain if Vance is indeed the pick (think Sunday):
1. The Democrats will try, as the opposition always does, to make Vance’s past negative quotes about Trump a thing.
2. The media will repeat all of those things.
3. Vance will say he has learned to appreciate Trump.
4. That, as it always is in such cases when a vp nominee has a track record of trashing the top if the ticket, will be that.
5. “Hillbilly Elegy” will sell a lot more copies.
The rest is tbd.
Finally on Trump, from a Republican with national political, establishment, and MAGA experience, to me, printed with permission:
Your concluding sentence in today's WWN is right on. Trump is as serene as he has ever been.
He understands that the turmoil around Biden is nothing compared to what it will be like if "the mob" drives Biden out of the campaign.
What is underestimated, in fact is not even being thought about in the frenzy to get Biden, is what happens next if successful. Trump sees electoral gold in all of the possible outcomes.
There are so many narratives available to Trump.
At the core is the fact that the 14 million Democrats who voted in the Democratic primaries are told their vote is meaningless. This fact becomes the foundation of the Trump attack... once again, the Democrats have cheated.
Inside there are so many story lines. Below are just a few of the narratives:
1. The Threat to Democracy; The real threat to Democracy.is the crass distain the Democratic Establishment, Hollywood cabal, Wall St Donor class and the MSM (the elites) when they have their power base threatened. Inside of this issue are all of the threads that are fuel to Trump's attack on the swamp. Remember in all of the polls, the people who list this as a reason to vote in the Presidential election, are already equally divided among Trump and Biden voters. Trump will only benefit more with voters on this issue.
2. The Dump Harris movement possible outcomes. If they keep Harris, it is Christmas come early for Trump. If they dump Harris, it is Christmas come early for Trump.
3. Who they nominate if not Biden or Harris. Everyone looks attractive to the alternative of keeping Biden, but that will change as soon as Biden leaves the stage. All of the named options have significant minuses: name id issues, money issues, organizational issues and will not have the mandate of any democratic selection process.
4. The Biden record is a Democratic Party record. Trump will be able to tar any successor nominee with it. The comparison of Trump’s record on the economy, the border, energy, foreign policy etc will still match up and this is the driving issue for voters.
5. Money. There is a real legal issue if neither Biden or Harris is the nominee regarding the transferability of their campaign money to the eventual Democratic nominee.
6. Trumps candidacy has grown stronger and more attractive to voters. He no longer is the candidate of division and discord. The Democratic nominee is.
7. The polls. Yes, Biden is trailing in most of them. All Democrats are trailing. Biden consistently is in the margin of error. The new WP poll has Biden and Trump tied among registered voters. How can you credibly say Biden cant win? Biden can make the case (and should be making it) that even amidst the very public Democrat Establishments' self inflicted bedwetting, the race is winnable if the Democrats circle the wagons and focus. Trump is vulnerable and there is still time to make him the issue.
8.The media. Biden is done receiving protective custody treatment. The MSM will have to be more fair in its coverage.
I could go on, but you get my drift. There are so many reasons for Trump to be serene.
Oh, and then there is one more reason for Trump to be serene.
The possibility that after all of this public admission that the Democratic Establishment has been lying to the American people (encapsulated in George Clooney's and John Favareau's admissions that they knew Biden had serious mental illness but kept quiet until the dam burst at the Presidential debate) Biden remains the Democratic nominee.
That one is too delicious.
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WORTH A LISTEN OR TWO
Wilco’s amazing Beatle-esque jaunt:
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For those headed to Milwaukee, here are Katie Reeves’ local recommendations:
Places a bit beyond the immediate area to the secure zone, but close enough to walk to:
Apertivo Quaint place in the historic Pritzlaff Building (Pritzlaff were early competitors to the Sears Roebuck Catalog). Smallish menu of salads, paninis, sandwiches, pasta, and pizza. Also excellent old school cocktail menu. Open for lunch and dinner Tues-Sat. (20 min walk from Fiserve)
Points East Pub Best wings in MKE. (particularly if you prefer dry rub over sauce). Great place to go if you want wings and a beer. (20 min walk from FiServe)
Ward's White tablecloth, prime rib place. Chef owned (and he’s a great guy! Loves his whiskey, so there’s an extensive whiskey menu. He comes out of the kitchen often…ask him about his private collection. He’s got great stories.) He may be booked for RNC events, so call first.
Elsa's on the Park Somewhere between white tablecloth and casual. Beware the martinis and martini-adjacent cocktails! (20 min walk from FiServe)
Swingin' Door Exchange Saloon and Eatery Old school bar vibe with shockingly excellent food and an enormous menu (and literally everything on the menu is delicious) (22 min walk from FiServe)
Slightly farther:
Saffron Elevated Indian dining. Outstanding food plus cocktails with an Indian twist. (half hour walk from FiServe)
Amilinda Spanish and Portuguese cuisine; chef/owner Greg Leon is a James Beard Award nominee. Very tasty food with indoor and beautiful outdoor seating. Dinner only. Reservations recommended but walk-ins welcome. (My map app say 20 min walk from FiServe, but I don’t buy that. At least a 25-30 min walk)
Sobleman's a great family-run spot known for it’s burgers and Bloody Mary’s. (40 min walk or 7 min drive from FiServe). Speaking of Bloody Mary’s…Milwaukee is known for them. They are works of art. And everyone has their own take. If you like Bloodies, you must try at least one in MKE.
Momo Mee Absolutely phenomenal elevated Asian food, with a great atmosphere…in a nondescript strip mall. (10 min drive from FiServe)
Places with multiple vendors:
Milwaukee Public Market In addition to the food vendors, there’s a wine bar with charcuterie boards. Plus…adjacent to the east side of the building is the Tiki Bar. (It has an actual name that no one remembers). And, as my friend Susie say, “It’s always a party at Tiki!”
Third Street Market Hall In addition to food and drink, there are shuffleboard courts, cornhole, a gaming lounge, and golf simulators.
Zocalo Food Truck Park There’s a cute little house adjacent to the food truck park, that’s has been converted into a bar-with restrooms-and has a hacienda vibe. There’s also plenty of picnic tables.
Late Night Food:
My Marquette Alumni card would be revoked if I didn’t say Real Chili is the only place to go for late night dining. The original is on Marquette’s campus, but there’s an identical one downtown. No frills diner, featuring mostly chili, where you can leave with a T-Shirt or a bumper sticker that reads: “Real Chili: It’s not just for breakfast anymore.”
Breakfast:
Toast Hands down the best brunch place in the city. It can get crowded; no reservations but you can add your name to the waitlist from their website before you head out.
Cafe at the Plaza Hotel great old-school vibe and good food
I have to put in a good word for my friends over at Great Lakes Distillery. They have wonderful cocktails in their tasting room, a lovely outdoor patio, and friendly staff. You can also make reservations via their website to tour the production floor and learn about Wisconsin’s first distillery since prohibition. They are hosting an RNC private event on the 18th and will be closed, but if you pop in at any other time, make sure that you let them know that Kate and Dave sent you!
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See you at 4pm ET on 2WAY.
Mark
